Automatic electrolytic cell.



JAY M. GOLDMAN, or sfr. Louis, Mrssoum.

AUTOMATIC ELEcTaoLYTIc CELLS) ITo all 'whom tlm/ay concern: Be it known that I, JAY M. GOLDMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of `the city of. St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have, invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic .lectrolyticl Cells, of ,which the following 1s a specification'containing a full, clear, and exact description, referenceV belng had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. 4 My invention relates to improvements 111 automatic electrolytic cells, wherein the electrodes are so arranged with relationto a flow vof liquid to be treated, as to first subject the 'flow to a maximumof electrolytic action, thensubsequently treat the ow to' a progressivelyy decreasing electrolytlc action, wherebyv to operate more econom1 cally, without a sacrificing-of efclency and wherein' the flow of liquid automatically controls the low of electrical energy.

The object of my invention is to provide an electrolytic cell, so arranged as to relate the electrolytic action on the liquid to be treated to the progression of theliquid through the cell, and so arranged that when the liquid supply is discontinued the current ofelectricity willVr also `discontinue automatically.

A further and more specic object of my invention is to provide an electrolytic cell, so constructed that'liquid entering the cell will receive, initially, a maximum of electrolytic action, and thereafter, as the liquid progresses through thelcell, the electrolytic action will progressively decrease, so; that at the termination of the course of flow through lthe cell, thev liquid will receive a 40 minimum of electrolytic action; furthermore to provide that inl case the iowof liquid to the cell is discontinued, as from time -to time, the {iow of electrical energy will also automatically discontinue. With the above objects in view, my improvements consist incertain details of construction and' arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully set forth, pointed out in my claim andillustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which L Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional elevation of a device'embodylng-my invention and is taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the electrical terminals.

Specification of Letterslatent. Patented 1916.

` Application led October 4, 115. f Serial No. 53,920.

i STATES PATENT .OFF

l Referring to the drawing by numerals, the numeral designates a ycasing,prefer' ably constructed of glass, which forms the body of the device, which/of itself :is-al1 open bottomed vessel and rests on a closure 5, which forms a base therefor. By preference this'closure or 'baseis metallic and provided centrally with athreaded aperture, to recelve afeed pipe 6, whereby water to be'y treated may be conveyed to the "cell formed by the casing body or vessel 4.' The pipe 6, y'

by preference isrconnected with a constant l source vof supply, not shown, and in order to control the volume ofl water vflowing through lthe lcell I arrange in the pipe.6 aV

valve?. Y The top of the casing, isby preference, formedl integrallytherewith, aperv'tured to receive a delivery'pipe 8.l Formed Athrough thebottomof closure 15, of the casing, there is a-constantly open drain 9, the function of which will'lhereinafter be made clear. In this casing'or cell there is arranged, two y electrodes extending axially thereof, each comprising a number offrelatively spaced plates and a support or connecting rod.v Secured to the closure 5, lon,

either side of thefeed pipe "6 is asocket as shown 1n Fig. 2, and designated 10 and 11, 1n each of whlch is supported a conducting rod, 12, in the socket 10 and 13 inthe socket 11.

y Arranged in spacedL relationship lengthpolarity, andv relatively spaced with the plates 14, so as to alternateftherewith. Surrounding the rods 12 and 13, except where contact is necessary with the plates 14 Vand 15 vthere are the insulatingsleeves 16 (on the rod12) and 17. (on the rod 13).

Between each of the sockets 10 and 11 and the closure, there is arranged an insulating Washer 18 and in the openings in the closure there 1s arranged an insulating bushing `19, through which the'threaded stems 20, of the said lsockets extend. To each of the 'stems 20. there is threaded a-nut;21, insulated from the closure by'a second washer 18, andf'each threaded stem v2,0-'carries a bindingfscrew 22 whereby to connect conductors, not shown, leading from' a sourceoff'electric energy, also not shown. f

In the construction of my device I preferably mount my lelectrodes so that all of the parts of both electrodes form a, mechanically rigid unit, capable of being introf duced into the electric terminal sockets.

In order to secure aA graded electrolytic action I spaceV the several parts or plates of my electrodes, so that liquid entering between the first set of opposed electrode plates traverses a relatively narrow path while each succeeding interspace thereafter is increased to widen the path of the liquid. yIn order to `further grade the electrolytic action, I alter,

approximately one-half ofthe sectional area of the cell'.

In the use of my device I erect it substantially vertically in position, connecting the desiredV form of'electrical energy to the ter-y minal sockets 10 and 11. by means of wires secured to the sockets by binding screws 22. I connect a supply of running water to valve 7 by means of which I control the ow of vthe water. Upon opening valve 7 water is admitted to the cell, covering the bottomA closure 5.. A portion of this water drains` out through the hole 9, which action willv plates exposed to the water. In each succeeding interspace -both thek interspacial distance andthe amount of electrode area are 'modified over the like dimensions in the prehereinafter be considered. The major part l 'of the water rises into the cell and flows out through `the delivery pipe 8. The water in rising fills the space beneath the first electrode plate, passes around the plate, which does not occupy the full sectional area of the cell,and then fills the interspace between the first and' second electrode plates. As soon as the water reaches the-second electrode plate, electric circuit is established and electrolytic action thereby starts. The water continues to rise in the cell, establishing electrical connection with each succeeding plate, which plates are alternately of Iopposite polarity, and concomitantly therewith establishing electrolytic action throughout the water in the cell. In' the first interspace between the electrodes there is relatively a small distance for the electrical energy to travel ythrough the water, and inaccordance with Ohrns law the energy transformation isrelatively great.` This last result isV `further' augmented by the relatively greater' amount Aof 'superficial larea of the electrode Vname to this specification.

vceding interspace, thereby proportionally decreasing the electrolytic action on the water contained in this particular interspace as compared with the electrolytic action already foregone, and as a final result: the electrolytic action upon the water y passing through the cell is a'constantly'decreasing one as the waterv progresses through the cell.

In order to provide for the varying amounts of treatment necessary for waters of varying foreign content the valve 7 is regulated so -as to adjust the rate of flow of water to the flow of electrical energy, thereby establishing a suitable relation'betvveen the amount of current used to the amount of water treated. Y

When it is desired to discontinue the treatment of the water, the valve 7 is closed, and

-throughout the operation discharges the Water which still remains in the cell after the supply yis discontinued. As soon as the water level in the cell is lowered to a point where it no longer makes connection with parts of the circuit of opposite polarity,

there is no longerthe existence of an electric circuit and the flow of electrical energy is thereby automatically discontinued.

Considering my electrolytic cell from a bactericidal or sterilizing standpoint as well as from achemical eliminatve standpoint, it will be understood, by persons versed in the art, that by the relative spacing-arrangementof, and the variable superficial areas of the electrode plates or elements, I am enabled to obtain the desired or necessary electrolytic action with a relatively small energy consumption.' In the elimination of bacteria and dissolved foreign substances, the element of time is essential.' The initial requirement is'for a sufficient amount of'electrolytic ac` tion to greatly enervate bacteria and to initially break down chemical structures of the foreign dissolved substances. When once either orboth of these effects has been produced and the so-called inertia has been broken down, the continuation of the process may be accomplished with a vrelatively lower rateof electrolytic action, the requirement for electrolytic energy being substantially inverse to the amount of removable substance remaining in the water.

I'claim:--. f f A structurecomprising electrode elements of 'opposite polarity in alternate arrangewise of the'electrode'.

In'testimony whereof, I have signed my .mY-ivi.l GOLDMAN.

ment, of increasing relative spacing and of decreasing relative superficial areas, length- 

